Typewriting machine



Apr. 10, 1923.

B. C. STICKNEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1921 Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

UNITED STATES BURNHAM- C. STICKNEY, OF ELIZABETH,

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, BURNHAM C. STICK- NEY, a citizen of the United States, residing v in Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewrit= ing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for retardl0 ing a typewriter carriage when tabulation is effected, and presents improvements upon the application of Benjamin M, Des Jardins, Serial No. 460,680, filed April 12,1921. In said application, the retarding device was mounted 'on the front wall of a springdrum, and, upon actuation of a tabulator key, a pawl wasswung toward the retarding device so as to engage a tooth of a ratchetwheel forming part of the retarding device. At the same time, the carriage was released and the spring-drum began turning to move the carriage in the letter-feeding direction. The main portion of the retarding device turned with the drum during a preliminary part of the tabulating action against the resistance of alight spring connecting the ratchet-wheel to one of the two friction elements or members composing the main part of the retarding device. After such preliminary movement, a stop on the outer friction member engaged a stop on the ratchet-wheel, and from that time to the end of-the tab-ulating action the spring-drum was retarded by the resistance between the two friction elements.

According to the present invention, a much more compact structure is obtained in that the main portion of the retarding device is placed in a cup-shaped compartment 40 extending inwardly from the front, face of the spring-drum. The spring of the springdrum lies in the annular space between the. outer wall of said cup-shaped compartment and the periphery of the spring-drum. Inasmuch as a comparatively long spring is required and such spring must be contained in a limited space, preferably the spring is one of resilient wire with coils, one outside of another, wound first in one direction along the axis of the spring-drum to. form one coil, and in the opposite direction to form the next outer coil, one end of the spring being connected to a normally fixed member at a point near the Wall of the cuplike compartment, and the other end being 1921. Serial No. 467,717.

secured to the spriiig-drum at its'periphery.

To hold the inner end of the wire spring, provision may be made ofa forwardly facing cuplike member secured to the-front end of the stud on which the spring-drum is mounted for rotation, said member being of such size as to receive the cup-like projection on the inner face of the front. wall of the drum. Adjustment of the tension of the wire spring may be effected by means of a worm meshing with a worm-gear on the supporting stud for the spring-drum.

In practice, upon actuation of a tabulator key, an arm will be swung to bring an offset at its lower end toward the front face of the ratchet-wheel, and a spring-pressed pawl on said offset will engage a tooth of the ratchet-wheel directly, or, in case one of the teeth is in its path, will yield and snap into engagement with the next tooth when the wheel is turned by'ifI-he spring-drum. Movement of the carriaine will then be resisted by the light sprlng connecting the ratchet-wheel with one friction element until a stop on said element engages a stop on the ratchet-wheel, and then movement of the carriage will be resisted by the main portion of the retarding devi't e which comprises two friction elements. Hi 88 Other features and advantages will'hereinafter appear.

In the accompanyingflrawings,

Figure 1' is a sectional,' ;sjide view of a portion of an Underwood st'andard typewriter 90 with my invention appliedthereto.

Figure 2 is a rear view of theparts shown in Figure 1, parts being broken away to. show the underlying structure.

Figure 3 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through the axis of the stud, on which thspringdrum is rotatable.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional side view showing the means by which the carriage is released from the escapement.mechanism.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of .the arrows.

Figure 7 is ,a fragmentary view showing the manner in which the plates of the two friction elements are mounted.

Figure- 8 is a view showing the spring- 1 0 drum with its front wall, which carries the retarding device, withdrawn therefrom.

A platen 1 is rotatably mounted in a carriage 2, which is supported on a front rail 3 and a rear rail 4 and "urged in a letterfeeding direction by means of a strap 5, connected at one end to the carriage and at the other end to a spring-drum 6. Movement of the carriage, under the urging of the spring-drum, is .controlled by suitable escapement mechanism comprising a rack 7 connected with the carriage to travel therewith and meshing with a pinion 8 having a one-way connection with an escapement wheel 9, which, in turn, is controlled by fast and loose dogs 10 and 11, respectively.

Depression of a tabulator key (not shown) acts through a link 12 and an arm 13, to rock a column-stop frame 14 about a shaft 15 until the frame is checked in its forward movement by any suitable means, such as a stop 16. The forward movement of the frame 14 will cause a column-stop 17, operatively positioned thereon, to be brought into the path of a stop 18 mounted on the typewriter carriage. At the same time, an arm 19, secured to the shaft 15, will be swung downwardly to actuate a lever 20 about its pivot 21, to cause a roll 22 at the forward end thereof to lift the rack 7 out of engagement with the pinion 8, thereby releasing the carriage and permitting it to be drawn by the spring-drum 6 in the letter-feeding direction until the counter-stop 18 on the carriage is moved into engagement with the next operatively positioned stop 17. The mechanism just described is,

in general, similar to that disclosed in the patent to H. Crutchley, No. 929,080, dated Jul 27, 1909.

When tabulation is effected in the manner just described, the stop 18 on the carriage is likely to strike the operatively set stop 17 with great force, a result which is obviously undesirable. Various devices have been used to reduce the force of the impact. As herein disclosed, .a retarding device is supported in the central portion of the spring-drum, preferably ina cup or cup-shaped compartment 23 in the front wall 24 of said spring-drum 6. Fixed to the bottom of the cup 23 at its center, and projecting outwardly therefrom, is a stud 25, on a square portion 26 of which are mounted plates 27 having square openings fitting thereover. nearest the bottom of the cup may be secured thereto. Alternating with the plates or disks 27 is a set of plates or disks comprising an inner plate 28 and plates or disks 29 having circular openings, so that they may be rotated about the square portion 26 of stud 25. An outer plate 30 may be secured to and spaced from the inner plate 28, by means of suitable devices, such If desired, the plate 27 as spacers 31. The plates 29 are somewhat smaller in diameter than plates 28 and 30, and are provided with notches to receive the spacers. As a result of thls construction, the disks or plates 29 are held against rotation relative to plates 28 and 30, but may be moved toward or from either ofthe latter.

In order to produce suitable pressure between the plates, 27 and the plates 28 and 29, provision may be made of a sleeve 33 placed over the outer end of the stud 25 and fitted in a sleeve 34 fixed to and extending outwardly from the outer plate 30 of the movable friction ele-' ment. At its outer end, the sleeve 33 is engaged by a washer 35, against whichpressure may be exerted by a nut or finger-piece 36, threaded on the outer end of the stud 25 to press the sleeve against the front plate of the set of plates 27 to adjust the frictional resistance between the two friction elements. A ratchet-wheel 37, having a sleeve 38 extendinginwardly therefrom and fitting over the sleeve 34 on the outer plate 30, may be secured on said sleeve 34 by turning portions 39 of the latter outwardly -to engage the front face ofthe ratchetwheel. A yielding connection may be effected between the ratchet-wheel 37 and the outer plate 30 by means of a spring 40, attached at its inner end to the sleeve; 38 of the ratchet-wheel and at its outer end to a lug 41 on plate 30, lug 41 normally being maintained in engagement with a lug .42 on the ratchet-wheel by means of said spring. Relative movement of the ratchet-wheel 37 and the plate 30 against the action of the spring may be limited by means of a screw 43, extending through an arcuate slot 44 in the ratchet-wheel and having a nut 45 threaded on its outer end, so that it may be adjustably secured at any point in the slot.

The spring-drum 6 is supported by means of its rearwall 46, -which is rotatably mounted by means of a ball-bearing 47 on an arbor 48, journaled in a bracket 49 pro-- the flange 51 forming with the disk 50 a cup adapted to receive the cup 23 projectmgrearwardly from the front wall of the spring-drum.

I PLI'OVISIOII may be made of a driving spring 52 for the spring-drum 6, connected to the flange 51 at its inner end and to the peripheral wall of the drum 6 at its outer end. In order that the spring, which is to be located in the limited annular space between the flange 51 and the peripheral wall of the spring-drum, may be of sufficient length, the spring may be in the form of a. resilient wire wound in successive coils/ one outside of another, adjacent coils being wound in opposite direction along the axis of the arbor. Adjustment of the tension of the spring 52 may be effected by means of a worm or screw 53 rotatably mounted in the bracket 49 and having a head 54 'by which it may be turned to rotate a worm-gear 55 fixed on the arbor 48.

- Normally, the retarding device, supported on the front wall of the spring-drum, will rotate idly with the spring-drum when the latter is rotated. When, however, the tabulating mechanism is operated, an arm 56, secured to the shaft 15 in any suitable manner, will be swung downwardly, and an offset or offset portion 57 thereof moved toward the front face of the ratchet-wheel 37. This movementof the offset 57 will be sufficient to bring a rearwardly-projecting tooth 58 of a pawl 59 carried by said offset into engagement with a ,tooth 60 of the ratchet-wheel 37. If the tooth 58 of the pawl strikes the outer face of a tooth 60 of the ratchet-wheel,

' it will beswung about its pivot 61 on the offset and away from a stop 59 against the action vofa spring 62, and will snap into engagement with the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel when the latter is advanced by the spring-drum.

After stoppage of the ratchet-wheel 37 by the pawl 59, the friction element 63, which is composed of the outer plate 30, inner plate a 28- and the disks or plates 29, will rotate with the rest of the retarding devices, until the r i the movement of the carriage under the lug 41 on the outer plate 30 engages the screw-43, whereupon the friction element 63 will be held against further movement, and

action of the spring-drum will be resisted by the friction developed between the friction element 63 and the friction element 64, composed of the plates 27 which are held against rotation with reference to the springdrum, due to their mountingon the square portion. 26 of the stud 25. It will be seen that during a preliminary part of the tabulating movement of the carriage, such movement will be resisted by the spring 40, and, that, after the resistance of said spring has been overcome, the carriage will be retarded by the greater resistance due to the friction between the friction elements 63 and 64 upon completion of the tabulating movement. The tabulating mechanism will be restored to its normal position, and the tooth 58 of the pawl 59 will be withdrawn from the path of the tooth 60, with which it was engaged during the tabulating action. The spring 40 will then rotate the ratchet-wheel 37 until the lug 42 is brought into contact with the lug 41 on the front plate 30 of the friction element 63.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage, letter-feeding means therefor comprising a spring-drum havin a cupshaped compartment in its front wa l, a retarding device mounted in said compartment, tabulating means, and means whereby said retardin device may be made effective by said tabu ating means.

2. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage, a letter-feeding means therefor comprising a spring-drum having a cupshaped compartment in its front wall, a re tarding device mounted in said compartment, said retarding device comprising a ratchet-wheel, tabulating means, and a device movable by said tabulating means into engagement with said ratchet-wheel to hold the same against rotation.

3. In a typewriting machine, in combination, letter-feeding means comprising a spring-drum having a cup-shaped compartment in its front wall, a retarding device mounted in said compartment, a normally stationary arbor on which said drum is mounted, a cup secured on the front end of said arbor to receive said compartment, .a spring connected at one end to the cup and at the other end to, the periphery of the drum, tabulating means, and means whereby said retarding device-may be madeeff'ective by said tabulating uneans.

4. In a typewriting machine, in combination, letter-feeding means comprising a winding drum having a cup-shaped compartment in its front wall, a drum-retarding device mounted, in said compartment, an arbor' on which said drum is mounted, a cup mounted on theiffront end of said arbor to receive said compartment, a spring con nected at one end to the cup and at the other end to the peripherygof the drum, means to adjust the tension ,o*f,-'said spring, tabulating means, and means whereby said retarding device may be made effective by said tabulating means.

5. In a typewriting machine, in'combination, letter-feeding means comprising a spring-drum having a cup-shaped compartmentin its front wall, a retarding device mounted in said compartment, a normally stationary arbor on which said drum is mounted, a cup secured on the front end of said stud to receive said compartment, a spring connected at one endto the cup and at the other endto the periphery of the drum, said spring being wound in a coil along the axis of said cup and, in the 0pposite direction along said axis, in a coil outside thereof, tabulating means, and means whereby said retarding device may be made effective by said tabulating means.

6. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a letter-feeding spring-drum, a retarding device mounted in the center of said drum,'a spring in nested coils having one end secured to a normally fixed member and the other end secured to the periphery of 'actuable thereby to render the retarding device effective.

7. In combination, a spring-drum for a typewriter, having a front wall with a cup like compartment facing forwardly, a stud on whichthe rear wall of the drum is revolubly mounted, a cup fixed on the front end of said stud and of suflicient size to re: ceive the compartment, and a spring connecting said cup with said drum.

8. In combination, a spring-drum for a typewriter, having a front wall with a cuplike compartment facing forwardly, an arbor on which the rear wall of the drum is revolubly mounted, a cup fixed on the front end of said arbor and of suflicient size to receive the compartment, a spring connecting said cup u with said drum, a retarding device in said compartment comprising a ratchet-wheel, tabulating means, and an arm connected with the tabulating means and having an offset parallel to the face of the ratchetwheel and a spring-pressed pawl on said oil'- set whereby, if the pawl engages the side of a tooth, it will be pressed back and snapped into engagement with k the next tooth advanced by movement of the spring-drum.

9. In combination, a rotatable drum, a drum-actuating spring in the form of an annular coil, and a drum-retarding device positioned in said annular coil.

10. In combination, arotatable drum, a drum-actuating spring the form of an annular coil,-controlling means for said drum, a drum-retarding device positioned in said annular coil, and means for concomitantly releasing said drum from said controlling means and rendering said, retarding device effective.

11. In a typewriting machine, in combi-' nation, a letter-feeding drum having an annular front wall, a drum-retarding device at the center of said drum and projecting through said annular front wall to which it is connected for rotation therewith, and a drum-actuating spring in the form of an anin said spring.

and then to exert a much greater resistance during further rotation of the drum.

, 13. In combination, a rotatable drum, a drum-actuating spring in the form of an annular coil, means to adjust the tension of said spring, and a drum-retarding device in said annular coil.

14. A device for use in typewriting ma chines insertable therein as a unit, compr1s-' ing a spring-drum having a cavity in one of v its faces, and a retarder in said cavity.

15. In combination, a rotatable drum, a

drum-actuating spring, means to adjust the tension of the spring, and a brake mounted coaxially with said drum andlocated with- 16. In a typewriting machine, a. carriage,

carriage-propelling means, and retarding.

means positioned within the carriage-propelling means.

17. In a typewriting machine, a carriage,

a spring-drum for propelling the carriage, a coil-spring within said drum, certain of the coils of said spring being arranged side by side, and a retarder for the drum;

18. In a typewritin'g machine, a carriage, a spring-drum, a carriage-propelling spring within said drum formed of a single wire and comprising a series of coaxial helices nested one within another and connected end to end, and a retarder for the drum.

19. In a typewriting' machine, a carriage, a spring-drum, a spring within said drum for propelling the carriage and of such substantially uniform throughout the travel of the carriage between its limits of movement, and means for retarding the drum.

20. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, a spring-drum for propelling the carriage, escapement mechanism, tabulating mechanism for'releasing the carriage to the action of the spring-drum and stopping it in a predetermined position, a spring for driving said spring-drum of such length that the carriage will be accelerated at substantially the same rate when released at any point of its travel, and a retarder for said drum. 21. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, carriage-propelling means co prising a pair of concentric disks having annular flanges providing an annular space between them remote from the centers of the :disks, a spring received in said annular space and connected at its ends to the flanges for causing relative movement betweenthem, and

means for retarding the action of the spring.

BURNHAM C. STICKNEY.

Witnesses:

MARION It. MCCAFFJREY, CATHERINE A. Nnwnua.

length that the tension exerted by it willbe 

